SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014

Arsenal’s manager Wenger laments Moyes’ sacking

LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he ‘Coaching quality under threat’ “The ball is not in our camp anymore, it is in his camp, feared for the future of his trade in England after David “That means the quality of the coaching and the qual- and he needs to come back to us.” Arsenal are at home Moyes was sacked by struggling champions Manchester ity of the managing is under threat,” insisted Wenger, to Newcastle on Monday where they will look to stay United. The 50-year-old Moyes was sacked by United on whose Arsenal side are currently in the top four of the ahead of Everton in the race for a top four finish and the Tuesday after a dismal 10-month tenure in which the Premier League and have reached the final of this sea- accompanying reward of playing in next season’s reigning champions slumped to seventh place in the son’s FA Cup where they will play Hull. Champions League. Gunners captain Thomas Vermaelen Premier League, denying them a place in next season’s Meanwhile Wenger said Arsenal were no closer to is expected to return back from a hamstring problem but Champions League. agreeing a contact extension for defender Bacaray Abou Diaby will not be rushed back following Wenger, now the Premier League’s longest-serving Sagna. The 31-year-old France international’s current knee injury after suffering a groin problem playing for manager after taking charge of north London side Gunners deal expires at the end of the season and Sanga the Under-21s in midweek. Arsenal in 1996, said the high attrition rate among man- has been linked with a move away from the Emirates It was his first action since sustaining a cruciate liga- agers in England would ultimately be detrimental to the Stadium, with Manchester City, Saint-Germain and ment injury against Swansea in March last year.” standard of coaching. Inter Milan among the clubs said to interested in signing “Diaby played one half (for the Under-21s). How far “If you want quality people in any job, you need to Sagna. away he is is difficult to say, but he had a little groin give them time to develop and to become good, or peo- But Wenger, yet to sign a new contract himself, was problem after the game so will not be available for ple with the quality will not come into our job any optimistic Sagna, who joined Arsenal from French club Monday,” said Wenger. more,” Wenger said Friday. Auxerre in 2007, could be persuaded to stay put, with Defender is still sidelined by a hamstring “The average (job life) expectancy of an English pro- the Gunners reported to have offered the player a deal problem, while England midfielder Jack Wilshere contin- fessional club at the moment is 11 months, and that is for two more years. ues his recovery from a foot injury. quite unstable. “Every guy who is married, has a family, “At the moment they (talks) are not progressing. We “Jack is progressing well. He is is still on target to be will have a big hesitancy before he goes into that game,” know what we want from him, he knows what is on the with our team in the last couple of games,” Wenger the 64-year-old Frenchman added. table and that is where we are,” said Wenger. said.— AFP

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Spanish League Granada v Rayo 17:00 beIN SPORTS 15 HD beIN SPORTS 2 HD Getafe v Malaga 19:00 beIN SPORTS 4 HD AMSTERDAM: Ajax Amsterdam players warm up during a training session of the football team in Amsterdam, yesterday. Ajax will beIN SPORTS 15 HD face Heracles Almelo tomorrow. Ajax leads the Dutch First League. — AFP Real Madrid v Osasuna 21:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD beIN SPORTS 15 HD Proud Giggs wants United to Real Betis v Sociedad 23:00 beIN SPORTS 4 HD beIN SPORTS 15 HD play with passion and tempo

German Bundesliga MANCHESTER: Ryan Giggs described managing history, with a record 962 United appearances, initially as David by a member of the Manchester Wolfsburg v Freiburg 16:30 Manchester United as the proudest moment of said he wanted to put a smile back on the faces of United press team, he joked that he had already Dubai Sports his extraordinary career and said he wants the the fans for the remainder of the campaign. made sure of his long-term future. “I’ve just given Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen 16:30 team to play with passion, tempo and imagina- United are seventh in the Premier League and myself a five-year contract,” laughed the midfield- Dubai Sports tion. Giggs was put in temporary charge of out of contention for next season’s Champions er, who said he would still be involved as a player. Hertha v Braunschweig 16:30 United after the club sacked David Moyes on League after a depressing run under Moyes, who “I am using my power while I can.” Speaking earli- Tuesday, ending his dismal 10 months at Old was appointed last July to replace the retiring er to Manchester United Television, Giggs revealed Dubai Sports Trafford. “I want the players to play with passion, Alex Ferguson. Moyes appointed Giggs, a stalwart that his first call on being appointed had been to Hoffenheim v Eintracht 16:30 speed, tempo, be brave, imagination,” Giggs told under Ferguson and winner of 13 Premier League Ferguson, to seek advice about just what he faced Dubai Sports his first news conference as manager yesterday. titles, as player-coach when he took over from his in the unfamiliar role of boss. “I wanted advice and FSV Mainz v Nuremberg 16:30 “All the things I expect of a Manchester United fellow Scot. wanted to know what to expect. Who better to Dubai Sports player. “Work hard but most of all enjoy it,” he ring?,” he said of a manager who ran the club with Bayer v Dortmund 19:30 added. “As a player, if I know I am enjoying the Looking sharp an iron fist for 26 years. Giggs told reporters he Dubai Sports game I can express myself a lot more. That’s what Speaking in the same room that Ferguson wanted to see goals, tackles and above all the pas- I will be doing with the team tomorrow.” used to brief the media, Giggs said the players sion that should come with being a player for one French League Giggs, 40, thanked Moyes for giving him the were looking sharp and training had gone well of the world’s great clubs. “It’s just been a bit of a chance to coach. “I would like to just say how ahead of the match against Norwich City at Old whirlwind week for me,” said the former Wales AC Ajaccio v AS Monaco 18:00 proud I am to be managing for the remaining Trafford on Saturday. “It’s going to be my philoso- international, who said he remained undecided beIN SPORTS 5 HD four games the club I have supported all my life,” phy, Manchester United’s philosophy because I whether it would be wearing a tracksuit or a suit OGC Nice v Stade Reims 21:00 Giggs said. “It’s a proud moment for me and one have been here for all my career,” said the on the touchline. “It’s been different, it’s been beIN SPORTS 8 HD I’ll enjoy...It’s probably the proudest moment of Welshman of his approach. Giggs sounded confi- chaotic. I’m just getting a little taste, it’s my fourth Guingamp v Valenciennes 21:00 my career,” added the 40-year-old veteran who dent and at ease in front of the media, a marked day in the job and you can never imagine what beIN SPORTS 7 HD has an unrivalled record in 23 years at Old contrast to Moyes in recent weeks, and even you have to do and the things it entails becoming Trafford. The most decorated British footballer in enjoyed the odd moment of humour. Referred to a Manchester United manager.” — Reuters